Mason&#39;s adjustable ski runner



NOV. 3, 1959 THORNHILL 2,910,861

MASONS ADJUSTABLE SKI RUNNER Filed Sept. 12, 1957 DALBERT THORN HIL L IN VEN TOR.-

ATTORNEY States PatentO MASONS ADJUSTABLE SKI RUNNER Dalbert Thornhill, Oklahoma City, Okla., assignor of one-half to Johnnie F. Thornhill, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application September 12, 1957, Serial No. 683,540

2 Claims. (Cl. 72-138) The present invention relates to building construction, and more particularly to a masons tool for striking joints.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a masons tool having ski-runner-like arms for use in producing a finished appearance of mortar between building blocks, or the like.

Another object is to provide a tool for striking the joint between two courses of bricks, or the like, in a single operation.

Another object is to provide a tool of this class which includes an intermediate member capable of entering the space between bricks, or the like, and contacting the mortar therebetween.

A further object is to provide a tool of this class in which the intermediate mortar engaging member is adjustable relative to the plane of the wall engaging supporting members.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is light in weight, yet sturdily and simply constructed, and which may be manually operated by the use of one hand.

Yet another object is to provide a device of this class in which the intermediate mortar engaging member is replaceable with other like members for effecting the desired finished configuration of the struck joint.

The present invention accomplishes these and other objects by providing a masons adjustable ski-runner-like tool which includes a pair of elongated members rigidly joined in spaced-apart substantially parallel relation by a pair of substantially U-shaped brackets adjacent the respective ends of the elongated member. An elongated intermediate member having rigidly connected laterally extending pins which are adapted to be freely received by the respective bights of the U-shaped members for holding the intermediate member. Thumb screw means threadedly engaged by the pins adjustably support the intermediate member for movement into and out of the wall engaging plane defined by the pair of elongated members. Handle means is rigidly connected to the pair of elongated members and bridges the space therebetween.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying single sheet of drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device;

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the intermediate member per se;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view, illustrating the device in operation; and,

Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional view, illustrating an alternate configuration of the intermediate member.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in those figures of the drawings in which they occur.

In the drawings:

The reference numeral indicates the device, as a whole, comprising a pair of elongated rod-like members 12 and 14 rigidly joined in substantially parallel spacedapart relation, as by welding, to the respective legs of a pair of substantially U-shaped strap metal brackets 16 and 18. The rod-like members 12 and 14 resemble a ski or sled runner in that the opposing end portions thereof are arcuately curved upwardly toward the adjacent respec tive bracket, as at 20, for the purposes which will presently be apparent. The runners 12 and 14 may be of any desired length, but preferably of a length which will at least span the distance between three head joints of a brick wall. I have found that a length of approximately eighteen inches is satisfactory. Similarly, the spacing between the members 12 and 14 may be as desired, as long as the v distance therebetween is sufiicient to bridge the spacing between the courses of bricks, or the like. Thus, the side surfaces of the members 12 and 14, opposite the brackets 16 and 18, lie substantially in a common plane adapted to be manually slid along the plane of a wall defined by the outward surface of bricks, building blocks, or the like, The brackets 16 and 18 are connected to the members 12 and 14 adjacent the respective curved end portions, thus leaving sufficient space between the brackets for handle means 22. The handle means 22 has four leg members 24 which are connected to the respective runners or members 12 and 14, between the brackets 16 and 18, and thus bridges the space between the runners.

A third or intermediate rod-like member 26 is similarly formed with respect to the members 12 and 14 and is provided with a pair of parallel rigidly connected threaded pins 28 which project laterally of one side therein in right angular relation. The intermediate member 26 is similarly provided With arcuate end portions, each curved toward the respective pin 28. Diametrically the member 26 is preferably of a size which will enter the space or joint between bricks, or the like. The spacing between the pins 28 is substantially equal to the spacing between the brackets 16 and 18. The pins 28 are adapted to be inserted through a suitable central perforation in the bight of the respective U-shaped bracket members 16 and 18, between the respectiveleg's of the latter. Nutsor thumb screws 30 are threadedly received by the respective pins 28 on opposing sides of each respective bight portion of the respective bracket members 16 and 18 for rigidly holding the intermediate member 26 centrally disposed between the runners 12 and 14. The length of the pins 23 is slightly greater than the length of the legs of the bracket members, thus permitting the intermediate member 26 to be disposed outwardly of the plane defined by the runners 12 and 14 by adjustment of the thumb screws 30, for the purposes more fully explained hereinbelow.

Operation After laying a course, or a portion of a course, of building blocks or bricks 32 with mortar 34 therebetween, and while the mortar is still wet, the joint is struck in the following manner. The device 10 is adjusted so that the intermediate member 26 projects outwardly of the plane defined by one side of the runners 12 and 14, as shown by Fig. 3. The tool 10 is manually grasped by the handle means 22 and the runners 12 and 14 are placed in contact with the outer wall surface or plane 36 defined by the bricks on opposing sides of the mortar-filled joint and with the intermediate member 26 partially disposed within the space between the bricks and in contact with the mortar 34. The device 10 is then manually pushed or slid longitudinally along the wall plane 36, thus striking the joint and forming a finished appearing inwardly curved joint, as at 38. Vertical or head joints between the adjacent ends of bricks, not shown, are similarly struck by using one of the co-operatingly curvedend portions of the device in a similar manner.

In some instances it is desired to strike joints of brickwork and provide a finished joint having other than an arcuate surface. This may be easily accomplished by providing the desired cross sectional configuration to the intermediate member 26. One such alternate embodiment of the member 26 is shown in cross section at 26A (Fig. 4). Obviously, the use of this alternate intermediate member 26A, in place of the member 26, will effect a V-shaped appearance to the struck joints. Obviously the invention is susceptible to some change or alteration without defeating its practicability, and I therefore do not wish to be confined to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and described herein, further than I am limited by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. A masons tool, comprising: a pair of spaced-apart rod-like members of a length at least great enough to span the distance between three head joints of a brick wall when positioned thereon; a pair of U-shaped members having a centrally perforated bight spanning the distance between said rod-like members and having the respective legs thereof rigidly connected to said rod-like members in longitudinal spaced-apart relation for holding said rodlike members parallel, one side surface of said rod-like members being adapted to engage a wall surface, the respective free end portions of said rod-like members being co-operatingly curved arcuately outward from the plane of the wall engaging surface; an intermediate rod-like member of substantially equal length with respect to said pair of rod like members; a pair of pins rigidly connected to said intermediate rod-like member intermediate its ends in spaced-apart co-operating relation with respect to the perforations in the bights of said U-shaped members, said pins projecting laterally of one common side of said intermediate rod-like member and adapted to be received by the perforations in the bights of the respective said 'U-shaped members, the respective free end portions of said intermediate rod-like member being arcuately curved toward the adjacent said pin; thumb screw means threadedly engaged with each of said pins on opposing sides of the respectivebight of said U-shaped members for adjustably positioning said intermediate rod-like member into and out of the wall engaging plane of said pair of rodlike members; and handle means connected to said pair of rod-like members medially their ends and bridging the of each of said members being adapted to engage a wall surface, the respective free end portions of each of said members being co-operatingly curved arcuately outward from the plane of the wall engaging surface; an intermediate elongated member substantially equal with respect to the length of said pair of rod like members; a pair of pins rigidly connected to said intermediate member intermediate its ends in spaced-apart co-operating relation with respect to the perforations in the bights of said U-shaped members, said pins projecting laterally of one common side of said intermediate member and adapted to be received by the perforations in the bights of said U-shaped members, the respective free end portions of said intermediate member being arcuately curved toward the adjacent said pin; thumb screw means threadedly engaged with each of said pins on opposing sides of the respective bight of said U-shaped member for adjustably positioning said intermediate member into and out of the wall engaging plane of said pair of members; and handle means connected to said pair of members medially their ends and bridging the space therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,292,558 Ackerson Jan. 28, 1919 

